[CTcard]

To piggyback off of your point, stupac, it strikes me that this is a new situation to which people are proposing old explanations -- primarily focused on the offense and/or punting-on-fourth-down whatever. But we've been arguing about these flaws, real or exaggerated, for ages; it's never gotten as bad as it is now. The most likely explanation for an unprecedented situation is an unprecedented factor -- which is to say, injuries.

(Injuries are also the most parsimonious explanation for why a seemingly-good team through the first three games of the season descended into sheer awfulness the next two.)

Been away for awhile, so not sure I have the tenor of things around here down pat, but agree with the sentiment here.

The focus on the QB and particular play calls seems a little off when everything is a mess. The team can't block anyone, can't pass protect, can't run, can't pitch and catch, can't tackle, can't cover, can't rush the passer, can't hold back the opposing OL. At least vs WSU they weren't racking up quite so many penalties (though a couple of doozies).

Injuries are certainly suspect #1.
General youth/inexperience is another.
I guess I'd add a general round of letting adversity get to you - which may be a subset of inexperience.
I think the first three games were enough to demonstrate that simply not being inherently able isn't the issue, but perhaps that's true with the team we can put on the field right now.

I do still worry that our offense is too complicated for inexperienced OL and QB to run effectively. But that might be a difference in a ten point game - not this kind of blowout. It also doesn't explain why our defense suddenly cannot stop anything.

[parsimonious? Does that word really mean what you think it means? ]

[CTcard]

To piggyback off of your point, stupac, it strikes me that this is a new situation to which people are proposing old explanations -- primarily focused on the offense and/or punting-on-fourth-down whatever. But we've been arguing about these flaws, real or exaggerated, for ages; it's never gotten as bad as it is now. The most likely explanation for an unprecedented situation is an unprecedented factor -- which is to say, injuries.

(Injuries are also the most parsimonious explanation for why a seemingly-good team through the first three games of the season descended into sheer awfulness the next two.)

Been away for awhile, so not sure I have the tenor of things around here down pat, but agree with the sentiment here.

The focus on the QB and particular play calls seems a little off when everything is a mess. The team can't block anyone, can't pass protect, can't run, can't pitch and catch, can't tackle, can't cover, can't rush the passer, can't hold back the opposing OL. At least vs WSU they weren't racking up quite so many penalties (though a couple of doozies).

Injuries are certainly suspect #1.
General youth/inexperience is another.
I guess I'd add a general round of letting adversity get to you - which may be a subset of inexperience.
I think the first three games were enough to demonstrate that simply not being inherently able isn't the issue, but perhaps that's true with the team we can put on the field right now.

I do still worry that our offense is too complicated for inexperienced OL and QB to run effectively. But that might be a difference in a ten point game - not this kind of blowout. It also doesn't explain why our defense suddenly cannot stop anything.

[parsimonious? Does that word really mean what you think it means? ]